Next Year’s Goals Are Earned This Winter

Make the most of the off-season with smart, focused training that builds a better cyclist for next year.

As the evenings draw in and the roads turn wet and icy, it’s tempting to hang up your bike and wait for spring. But if you’re serious about chasing new PBs, conquering a summer sportive, or nailing next season’s goals, winter is where the real work begins.

Whether you're training for your first 100-mile ride or targeting a new FTP score, this is your opportunity to lay the foundations. Here’s how to turn your off-season into a powerful performance-building block and why next year’s goals are earned this winter.

Why Winter Training Matters

Winter is often misunderstood as the “off-season” — but for performance-driven cyclists, it’s the base-building season. With fewer events on the calendar and more time off the road, it’s the perfect window to focus on your aerobic engine, address any weaknesses, and train without distractions.

Consistent training now can be the difference between a strong start to your season and spending spring catching up. With the right approach, your winter rides can be just as rewarding as summer ones, minus the sunburn.

Take Your Training Indoors

While nothing beats the feeling of flying along a country lane, indoor training is the smarter and safer way to ride through winter. Cold weather, icy roads, and dark mornings make outdoor riding difficult, risky and inconsistent. But when you bring your training indoors, you're in control.

Indoor training with Wattbike means no time wasted setting up your bike, no need to layer up in winter gear, and no worrying about the weather. You can jump on, train with precision, and finish knowing exactly what you achieved every time.

With real-time performance feedback, including power output, cadence, and unique pedalling analysis via Polar View and Pedal Effectiveness Score, you can fine-tune your technique and efficiency while building serious fitness and getting those winter miles under your belt.

Build a Winter Training Plan That Works

If you want to see real progress this winter, don’t wing it, use a plan. A structured winter training plan keeps you consistent, focused, and aligned with your long-term goals.

Start by outlining what you want to achieve next season. Is it a higher FTP? Better endurance? Completing a big event? From there, set measurable, time-bound targets and build your sessions around them.

The Wattbike Hub offers ready-to-go winter training plans tailored to various goals, ranging from sportives to stage races. The Hub app also includes 100's of workouts such as, endurance rides, interval sessions, recovery days, and performance tests to track progress. You’ll stay motivated and on track even when the weather isn’t right to be out on your bike.

Add Strength & Variety

Indoor cycling should still be the cornerstone of your training, but winter is the perfect time to build strength that pays off when you’re on longer rides in the season.

Try incorporating 1–2 gym sessions per week focused on lower-body compound lifts and core exercises, such as squats, deadlifts, and plank holds. Include a variety of rep schemes: use lighter weights with higher reps to build muscular endurance, and heavier weights with lower reps to develop pure strength and support tendon and ligament health to reduce injuries in the long run. Stronger legs, glutes, and core lead to better power transfer and reduced risk of injury on the bike.

You can also keep your fitness by including other forms of cardio like running or swimming. That will give you some variety in the winter months to keep you mentally engaged and physically well-rounded.

Optimise Your Indoor Setup

A great indoor training space isn’t just about convenience, it’s about sustainability. If your setup is uncomfortable or hard to use, you won’t come back to it consistently.

Here’s what to get right:

• Saddle height and position: Ensure proper fit to avoid strain.
• Ventilation: Use a good fan to avoid overheating and mimic outdoor airflow.
• Heart rate monitor: Track effort to train smarter.
• Mat and equipment: Keep your training area clean and stable.
• Comfortable kit: Choose the right gear for your goals — whether it’s long-distance endurance or short, powerful sessions.

Little tweaks can make a big difference when you're clocking hours indoors each week.

Avoid These Common Winter Mistakes

To make the most of your winter training, avoid these common mistakes:

• Skipping recovery: Rest is where you grow. Include rest days and active recovery in your plan.
• Overtraining: More isn’t always better. Too much intensity can lead to burnout or injury from overtraining. Make sure there is a mixture of sessions, with a variety of lengths and intensities to make the most of your training. 
• Poor nutrition: Fuel your sessions and recover properly with carbs, protein, and hydration.
• Underprepared outdoor rides: If you do venture outside, use winter tyres, lights, warm layers, and check your route for safety.

Train smart, have a plan, that’s how you keep progressing through the winter months.

Make This Winter Count

This winter is your opportunity to reset, rebuild, set a foundation and focus in on your goals for next year. Focus on consistency, base-building, and smart planning this is where the strongest cyclists separate themselves by showing up, staying consistent, and making every session count. Whether it’s intervals in erg mode, long base miles, or a strength session in the gym.

Your next season starts now. Winter training isn’t optional — it’s essential.

Get access to expert advice, personalised training plans, and more winter cycling tips over on our Winter Training Hub. Whether you’re riding towards a big event or your next personal best, we’ve got the tools to help you train smarter all season long.